In this case, familiarity will lead not to contempt but to good questions, as I’ll want to avoid queries that I (and others) have asked the authors before. Such challenges are among the joys of moderating a panel. The first time I had the job, at Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis, for example, my panel included two translators from other languages into English, one who translated from English into French, and an author. The search for common elements among these three categories of panelists led to questions I’d likely not have come up with had I had to quiz them separately, in groups consisting solely of their exact peers.

I’ve already come up with a couple of good questions, but you won’t read about them here, because then the authors might read them. I always feel that a bit of mystery is best at a crime-fiction convention.

I’m also developing an itinerary of things to do in Cleveland, with the help a colleague who comes from there. The Cleveland Museum of Art tops the list, and Bouchercon’s opening ceremony happens at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Other recommendations include kielbasa, kraut, pierogies, the West Side Market, East Sixth and Prospect Avenue, the Flats, and jazz clubs on West Sixth Street. Unfortunately I’ll have left town by the time the Harvey Pekar statue is dedicated, but such a statue leaves me with warm feelings about Cleveland.

If Cleveland was good enough for Harvey Pekar, it's good enough for me.

As for snow, I've ranked my four Bouchercons by weather. Baltimore in 2008 was far and away the best, followed by St. Louis last year. Indianapolis in 2009 was cold and wintry, but that may have been normal, so I don't know if it ranks below the weird mix of microclimates that gave us brilliant sun, cold wind and rain in San Francisco in 2010.

I'm very sad, Peter, to miss being there with my blogmates, but I'm gonna do the Flemish Book Fair this year in Antwerp - and two international trips within a month just aren't on.I don't know what Icelandic specialties Yrsa is planning for the gang this year, but after the fermented shark at Crimefest and the sheep's head in St. Louis, I'm sure you're in for a treat.

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About Me

This blog is a proud winner of the 2009 Spinetingler Award for special services to the industry and its blogkeeper a proud former guest on Wisconsin Public Radio's Here on Earth. In civilian life I'm a copy editor in Philadelphia. When not reading crime fiction, I like to read history. When doing neither, I like to travel. When doing none of the above, I like listening to music or playing it, the latter rarely and badly.
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